Microsoft goes mobile with Windows 8, new tablet

AFP

NEW YORK — Microsoft took a big step into mobile Thursday, unveiling a revamped version of its flagship Windows system and offering a closer look at Surface, its entry into the hot tablet market.

The new Windows 8 operating system and tablet are to go on sale Friday, marking a new offensive for the US tech giant seeking to keep pace with Apple and Google amid a dramatic shift away from PCs to mobile devices.

"Windows 8 brings together the best of the PC and the tablet," said Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer.

At a New York news event, Microsoft announced that Windows 8 would launch Friday in 37 languages and 140 worldwide markets. It can be downloaded beginning at 12:01 am local time worldwide and will be sold at retail stores.

Windows 8's brand new user interface scrolls horizontally to reveal new dynamic tiles for specific programs, apps, files and shortcuts. The Start button is gone, and the new environment takes a bit of time to get used to.

Windows 8 is the first version of the OS to support certain types of tablets: those with a low-energy consumption ARM processor, such as Microsoft's own Surface, as well as a selection of devices from Asus, Lenovo, Dell and Samsung

Microsoft is also launching its app store, which was built on the same model as its well established rival,
the Mac App Store. Fewer than 3,000 apps will be made available at
Windows 8's launch, but Microsoft expects 100,000 apps to be available
90 days after the launch.

Windows 8 also includes the latest
version of its browser, Internet Explorer 10. Internet Explorer 10
promises better support with internet standards such as HTML5, CSS3, and touch controls. The browser will host Flash, but it will only work with a restricted list of websites and other special uses, so as not to affect the device's performance or security.

Surface appears to be a cross between a tablet and a PC, equipped with a flip-out rear "kickstand" to prop it up like a picture frame and a cover that, when opened, acts as a keypad to switch into "desktop" mode for work tasks.

CEO – chief executive officerpress conference
– an official meeting where someone makes a formal statement about a
particular issue or event to journalists and answers their questions
about it การแถลงข่าวlaunch – to start selling a new product or service to the public เริ่มวางขายmobile (technology)
– of devices, especially telecommunication devices, that can easily be
moved around, e.g., mobile phones, tablets, notebook computers
อุปกรณ์ซึ่งเคลื่อนที่ได้ง่ายunveil – to show or introduce a new plan, product, etc. to the public for the first time เปิดเผย, ประกาศให้รู้ทั่วไป
revamp – to make a major change or revision to something ปรับปรุงใหม่version – a particular form of something which varies slightly from other forms of the same thing – ชุด, เวอร์ชั่นflagship – the most important product, service, building, etc. that an organisation owns or produces ผลิตภัณฑ์หรือบริการหลักoperating system
– a set of programs that controls the way a computer works and runs
other programs ระบบปฏิบัติการซึ่งควบคุมการทำงานของคอมพิวเตอร์offensive – a series of actions aimed at achieving something in a way that attracts a lot of attention การรุกราน,การบุกรุกkeep pace with
– to move, increase, change, etc. at the same speed as
somebody/something; to not fall behind a competitor
เดินไปด้วยระดับความเร็วเท่ากันamid – at the same time as ท่ามกลางdramatic – sudden, very great and often surprising; exciting and impressive น่าทึ่งใจ, ตื่นเต้นเร้าใจshift – a change in something การเปลี่ยนdevice – a machine or piece of equipment that does a particular job อุปกรณ์ เครื่องมือ เครื่องจักรworldwide – affecting all parts of the world ทั่วโลกlocal – in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about ท้องถิ่นretail store – a store which sells things directly to the public for their own use ร้านค้าปลีกbrand new – extremely new; the latest version of something that has just been introduced ใหม่ล่าสุดinterface –
the way a computer program, mobile device, etc. presents information to
a user or receives information from a user, in particular the layout of
the screen and the menus อินเตอร์เฟส,
การติดต่อประสานระหว่างเครื่องคอมพิวเตอร์กับผู้ใช้ เช่น แป้นพิมพ์, จอภาพ
ต่างก็เป็นตัวประสานกับผู้ใช้ทั้งสิ้นscroll – to move text on a computer screen up or down so that you can read different parts of it เลื่อนจอภาพขึ้นลงhorizontally – going across and parallel to the ground rather than going up and down ตามแนวนอนreveal – to show something that was covered or hidden or not known เปิด, ทำให้ปรากฎdynamic – active, causing changestile – in this case, a small flat image on a computor screen that can be clicked on our touched to open a program, application, etc.shortcut –
a quicker or shorter way of getting to a place, in this case, an image
on a computer screen that allows you to open a program or application
more quickly ทางลัดenvironment – a place, including
all the physical conditions that affect it, in this case the
environment on a computer screen, i.e., its interface อินเตอร์เฟส
สภาพแวดล้อมused to – familiar to you because you have often done it before or experienced it before คุ้นเคยกับconsumption – the act of using energy, food or materials; the amount used การบริโภคพลังงาน, การใช้หมดไปprocessor –
a part of a computer that controls all the other parts of the system
อุปกรณ์อิเล็กทรอนิกส์เพื่อสร้าง จัดเก็บ ตรวจแก้ พิมพ์คำ ข้อความ
(ทางคอมพิวเตอร์)selection – choice; the procession choosing การเลือก,การคัดเลือกrival – a person, team or business that competes with another คู่แข่งstandards – a level of quality that is normal or acceptable for a particular person or in a particular situation มาตรฐาน, บรรทัดฐานtouch – the sense that enables you to be aware of things and what they are like when you put your hands and fingers on them การสัมผัสrestricted – limited ถูกจำกัด,ถูกจำกัดวงperformance – the standard to which someone does something การกระทำ, การทำให้บรรลุผลสำเร็จsecurity – protection; systems providing for safety from attack, harm, or damage ระบบรักษาความปลอดภัยcross – a mixture of two different things การผสมผสานflip – to turn over into a different position with a sudden quick movement พลิกตัวrear – back ด้านหลังkickstand –
a long straight piece of metal fixed to a something, usually a bicycle
or a motorcycle, which is normally kept horizontal (แนวนอน) but which
moved to a vertical (ตั้งตรง) position when you need to stand the object
upprop up – to support พยุง, ยัน frame – a strong border or structure of wood, metal, etc. that holds a picture, door, piece of glass, etc. in position กรอบkeypad
– the set of keys for operating a computer or typewriter; a small set
of buttons with numbers on used to operate a telephone, television, etc;
the buttons on the right of a computer keyboard แป้นพิมพ์,
กลุ่มแป้นพิมพ์ที่จัดไว้เป็นกลุ่มmode – a particular way of doing something; a particular type of something แบบ, วิธีการtask – something that you have to do, a job ภารกิจchallenge – to compete for something แข่งขันformat – the arrangement, design or organisation of something รูปแบบ